Page 108 of Truck Stop Titan

Gave me morbid pleasure watching that entitled asshole squirm. I could’ve drawn his discomfort out, made him suffer, but shit, I was too damn exhausted. Instead, I grunted, and gave him my best,you better not fuck-up with my kid againglare.

The two of us would have to learn to coexist. I wasn’t leaving Whisper Springs. Neither was he.

“C’mon, Rockster.” He scooped his kid off the ground, leaving no room for protest, and threw him over his shoulder. “Let’s go find your mom.”

Rocky kicked and squirmed. “Dad. C’mon. Let me down.”

Ignoring his son’s pleas, Tango turned and strode through the double doors leading to the back of the diner.

Mim slumped in her chair.

Moriah looked up at me with sleepy eyes and smirked. I kissed her, because damn, what else could I do?

“Well. Well. Well. Ain’t that precious.” Hammer’s deep voice came over my shoulder. “The three of you look like one happy little family.” He dropped into the seat next to Mim.

Her face paled, and she pinched her lips together, her eyes filling with liquid.

I pushed to stand, ready to drag that motherfucker outside by his neck, then froze when he shoved the barrel of his Glock into Mim’s side.

For the second time in my life, I suffered true, terrifying fear.

Moriah

I COULD REMEMBER THREEtimes in my life when I’d been truly terrified. The first being the time my sister was bit by a Cottonmouth and Mom had been next door helping Old Man Franks carry boxes down from his attic. She didn’t hear me screaming for help, and I was sure Mickey was going to die.

The second was in high school, when my boyfriend dared me to spend the night at the Ridge Cemetery that was rumored to be haunted. I’d never believed in ghosts, so I scoffed at his challenge. We snuck out late at night, parked at the gated entrance, and tucked in for the evening. When we saw the first apparition in the distance, I was sure his friends were behind the scare, an optical illusion of some sort. But then we saw the girl, with the red eyes and blackened skin, begging for help and floating, yes floating, through the iron bars, and toward our car. Tyler started to cry. I had to drive home. We broke up the next day and never spoke of that night again.

The third time I’d experienced true horror was the day Mom had told me she had terminal cancer.

Not one of those experiences compared to the limb-shaking, heart-seizing terror I experienced when Hammer forced that gun into Mim’s ribs. I froze. Paralyzed.

Mim’s wide, tear-rimmed eyes stayed focused on Dane, while I stared at her, the terrified little girl, and silently willed her to stay still. To stay calm.

Dane, although his muscles tensed against mine, kept his voice low and steady, his gaze narrowed on Hammer.

“What’s happening, Hammer.”

“I want the necklace.”

“What fucking necklace?” Dane asked through gritted teeth.

“The necklace her mama gave her to wear.”

“Don’t know what the fuck you’re talkin’ ’bout, brother.”

Hammer wrapped an arm around Mim, pulling her closer to his side, and bent, lowering his mouth to her ear. “She knows what I’m talking about, don’t you, doll?”

Mim flinched and then shrank, but never tore her gaze from Dane.

Hammer continued. “Where’s that necklace, little doll? The one your mama gave you to keep safe?” He fisted her hair, then yanked, exposing her bare neck. “Why aren’t you wearing it?”

The tears she’d been fighting spilled down her cheeks, her face scrunching. Still, she stared at Dane. Her safe place.

“Hammer.” Dane’s voice remained impossibly calm, drawing attention away from my niece. “She wore a necklace the day we pulled her out of that pit. I haven’t seen it in weeks. But I’ll help you find the damn thing. Just let the ladies walk outta here.”

“Naw. I’ll take the little one with me. She can show me where that key is hidden.” The sick bastard kissed the top of Mim’s head. “We’ll have fun together. Make a game of it, right, little bitch?”

Dane’s thigh twitched against mine. “You’re not leaving with the girl. You wanna shoot her? Shoot her. She’s better off dead than with a piece of shit like you.” He leaned forward, challenging. “But you sure as hell will not walk out that door with the kid.”

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